Apollo's Curse Picture

The story of the beautiful Trojan princess Cassandra is a tale of woe. When Apollo instructed the mortal woman and taught her about the art of prophecy, she did not know he had a different motive - that the god wished to win her affections. Cassandra accepted Apollo as a teacher, but not as a lover. He was insulted by this refusal and punished Cassandra. Apollo caused the gift that he gave her to be twisted, making everyone who heard her true and accurate foretellings of future events believe that they were instead hearing lies. In other words, the wondrous blessing bestowed upon a mortal became instead a terrible curse.

In one memorable example, Cassandra announced the dire consequences of the Trojans accepting the infamous Wooden Horse from their Greek opponents. But as Apollo made certain, no one believed Cassandra when she warned her companions about the future. And this, in the end, was to be Cassandra's tragic fate.

Here she wanders the ruins of Troy. Devoid of contact, both human and deity, she can at last find a shred of peace from the devastation of her life.